Yard MD: Your guide to the most common gardening headaches, Part 2

Jan. 30, 2014

Most fancy tulips sold at garden centers in fall should be treated as annuals. / ROB ZIMMER/Post-Crescent Media

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Today we continue what we started last week: A march through the most frequent gardening questions I get from readers.

Last week we hit the first 13. Today, we finish off my list of the top 25. Be sure to check out my daily blog at postcrescent.com for more information on each of these garden woes, where I will provide more details, tips and advice.

14. When is the best time to reseed or seed a lawn?

The best time of year to seed an area of lawn is in fall, as cooler temperatures and better moisture retention allow seed to germinate consistently and easily. Spring also is a beneficial time, though soils may be compacted and temperature fluctuations may limit results.

15. Got mushrooms?

In most cases, fungicides do not work to control mushrooms in the lawn. Remedies such as using bleach, vinegar and other items are more harmful than good. Use these carefully, and spot treat only. They will kill grass and other vegetation.

Reduced watering, routine aeration of your lawn and raking regularly to provide better air movement allows your lawn to dry more quickly, causing many types of mushrooms to disappear. Simply let Mother Nature take her course or hire a stump removal service to remove more of the organic matter from the soil.

16. My roses have black spots, can you help?

Not all roses are susceptible to black spot, so choosing roses that are disease-resistant and planting them in a favorable location is your first step. Roses should be placed in a sunny area with good air circulation. Remove spotted or yellowing leaves from the plant. Fungicide should be applied/sprayed to keep the problem under control.

17. How do I get rid of pesky earwigs?

Iím always surprised that people want to get rid of earwigs, one of the most beneficial garden insects there are. Earwigs feast on aphids and many other pest insects. But occasionally they can eat certain garden plants also. If you simply must get rid of them, there are a few ways to do this. One simple method is to loosely roll up a moistened newspaper and set outside on the ground where you noticed earwigs. Overnight, the insects will crawl into the newspaper and you can simply toss it out. Another option is to use a shallow dish filled with vegetable or other oil.

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18. And what about those slimy slugs?

Hollowed orange, lemon or lime rinds set among plants that slugs are feasting on will capture them for easy removal. Shallow dishes or pans of beer or fruit juice, especially grape, will also help. Finally crushed eggshells sprinkled around your favorite plants will keep the slugs away. Diatomaceous earth or fine sand also will work. Strategically place boards, carpet remnants or other items around the garden to attract slugs, which will congregate there and can be destroyed. Thin strips of copper sheeting work well when placed around special plants or beds you wish to protect.

19. How do I keep sparrows from swarming my feeders?

A few ways to keep hungry hordes of sparrows out of your birdfeeders include feeding in mesh or nylon stocking-type feeders, as well as using different types of seed such as thistle seed that sparrows tend to pass over.

20. How do I control Creeping Charlie?

As with most lawn weeds, your best defense against Creeping Charlie is a thick, lush lawn that does not allow the weeds to compete for growing space. In garden beds, cut weeds down to ground-level then cover with a dense mulch such as newspaper or cardboard or pond liner, checking weekly. A diluted borax and water solution has also been shown to be effective. However, this treatment should be done very carefully, and applied no more than once per season, as it is toxic to the soil. White vinegar, straight or diluted, or mixed with salt water, is also effective. With all of these controls, follow-up manual pulling may be needed.

21. How do I fight quack grass?

The best quack grass prevention method is to maintain a full, lush lawn. Quack grass requires diligent control. There are no quick fixes to a quack grass problem. Scattered individual clumps can be hand-pulled or carefully dug, with daily follow-up treatments to eradicate new shoots that emerge. In a larger area overrun with quack grass, cover with a thick layer of mulch or cardboard and let it sit for at least one growing season.

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Quack grass grows in poorly drained, heavy clay, compacted soils, so one way to reduce and eliminate over time is regular aeration and soil modification.

22. Why didn't my tulips come back?

Many gardeners are disappointed when tulips do not flower the second or third year. Most garden-variety tulips are not reliable as perennials. The old-fashioned Triumph and Darwin tulips are the most reliable year-to-year, along with the miniature species tulips.

23. When is the best time to divide my perennials?

Depending on the type of perennial, fall is usually best. But spring can be a great time to divide many perennials as well, especially hostas and daylilies. Dividing these clump-forming perennials in spring allows the new divisions to clump up nicely over the season. In addition, bearded iris and Oriental poppies benefit from summer division, after they bloom.

24. What's the difference between a vole and a mole?

Voles are rodents, moles are not. Voles eat plant material in your garden. Moles are after the insects and grubs in your soil. Learn to read the signs. If you have a heavy mole population, you have a grub problem. Controlling the grubs will help control the moles.

Voles can be reduced or eliminated through regular and thorough garden cleanup, eliminating thick thatch in the lawn, and by placing a layer of pea gravel 2 to 3 inches thick or more around trees and shrubs you want to protect. This layer should be at least a foot wide to discourage voles from feeding on the plants.

Other options include placing used cat litter in and among tunnels used by these animals, as well as bundles of human or pet hair. Plant catnip or members of the Nepeta plant family, or place cotton balls soaked with a few drops of catnip oil near tunnels.

25. Why are my maple trees covered in black spots?

While not normally harmful to the tree, maple leaf tar spot is unsightly when noticeable, usually in fall when the leaves begin to yellow. If you know that your tree is infected, rake leaves completely from the area in fall. Do not mulch. Proper cleanup of your yard and garden is essential in removing infected leaves. In spring, spores are released into the air. These spores can drift for long distances on the spring wind.